It was actually a happy coincidence. We were scanning above-ground infrastructure in 3D while our colleagues at In Control were digitally mapping the associated underground cables. “Can’t this be combined into a single 3D image?” wondered client Enexis. Of course, it can! The result: a unique combination of In Control and Scan-to-BIM.

“With In Control, we usually scan underground infrastructure using a point cloud, which aren’t true 3D models,” explains Jalbert Landwaart. “Normally, we deliver information about underground infrastructure in 2D. In this format, you can see the lines and the positional data, but not much is done with the Z-value.”

That has now changed. Leander Goor adds: “The digital trench my In Control colleagues had scanned contained underground cables. These connected to above-ground transformers that other colleagues were scanning. The wish from Enexis to combine everything into 3D within one Revit model was relatively easy to realize.”

Jalbert Landwaart: “The BIM model now provides a complete picture of both the above- and underground infrastructure. For management purposes, that’s very efficient. It’s a completely different way of handling revisions, one that’s not widely used yet. Enexis has the innovative vision to have everything standardized in a BIM format within their systems.”

That does require a different approach: “Traditionally, revisions are done in 2D using AutoCAD files. But delivering in 3D is far more efficient. Where previously dozens of people were editing AutoCAD files, that’s no longer necessary.”

Leander Goor adds: “This is where two worlds come together, which were previously strictly separate. But one cannot exist without the other. The cables we now draw in 3D detail physically connect to the transformers. The big advantage for the client is that one model allows multiple departments to communicate simultaneously. For example, during work preparation.”

Once again, digital innovation ensures a more efficient process—both for Allinq Digital and the client. Models enriched with detailed data make internal communication, planning, and execution much simpler.